By Tom Frary
A year after the tragic death of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, QIPCO British Champions Day was the stage for a momentous outcome for his King Power Racing as Donjuan Triumphant (Ire) (Dream Ahead) caused an upset in the G1 Sprint S. If the result was decided on who handled the heavy ground best, it would have been handed to the 6-year-old before the start but his overall form made him a realistic 33-1 shot lining up against several contemporaries he had played second fiddle to on many occasions. Last of 13 in this in 2016, eighth a year later and third last term, the bay who was last seen finishing runner-up in the Oct. 5 G3 Bengough S. over this course and distance was covered up early by Silvestre de Sousa against the far rail. Stopped in his run inside the final two furlongs, he rallied bravely to reel in the 4-1 joint-favourite One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) inside the final 50 yards and prevail by a length, with Forever In Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) a neck away in third. “This is the first horse the chairman [Srivaddhanaprabha] bought and I'm thrilled it's King Power's first group one,” trainer Andre Balding said. “He would be so proud now.”
Trained by Richard Fahey at two and three, Donjuan Triumphant captured the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte before finishing runner-up in the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock in May and in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville the following season. Tried several times over seven furlongs in 2017 and 2018, the bay was fourth in the G2 Lennox S. over that trip at Goodwood last July and in the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup at this distance in September, but the general consensus was that there would always be at least one too strong at this level. Eighth in the latest renewal of the Lennox July 30 and sixth in the G2 Hungerford S. at Newbury Aug. 17, he showed he was ready for a return to this trip when two lengths behind Cape Byron (GB) (Shamardal) in the Bengough a fortnight prior to this career-best.
This race was set up perfectly as last year's winner Sands of Mali (Fr) (Panis) took on the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) on the front end and it was interesting that the first, second and third were sitting close to each other halfway down the field passing halfway. As the pace began to tell on the leaders two out, Donjuan Triumphant received a hefty swipe from old rival Cape Byron and it should have been game up at that stage with One Master and Forever In Dreams moving on ahead. Due to the sapping conditions, the mare and filly could never get far enough away from him and he delivered the most potent surge to overhaul them in the final yards.
“Historically, he always comes good in the autumn and I thought he ran a really good race last time behind Cape Byron, because he fluffed the start and things didn't go to plan,” Balding added. “He is such a legend–there were a couple of anxious moments, but Silvestre managed to get himself out of trouble. We were quietly hopeful coming into it, but we needed everything to go right and we got a bit of luck in the end. He has been a star and has got easier to train. The head lad who works in his barn has worked hard on his joints, but this was always going to be his last race as he is off to stud in France now.”
William Haggas had to endure a couple of painful nearly moments on the day and said of One Master, “She was maybe a bit unfortunate, but the winner won well. She ran a very good race and coming back to six on this ground was no trouble. We've got to make the decision whether to keep her racing or send her to stud. We will decide that over the next month or so. I don't see why she shouldn't race next year.” Jamie Spencer said of Forever In Dreams, who was again making the frame in a major prize having been second in the G1 Commonwealth Cup here in June, “She tried very hard and handled the ground, but they are very difficult conditions.”
Donjuan Triumphant is one of two black-type winners out of Mathuna (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) alongside the Listed Ascendant S. scorer Caledonian Spring (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}). The dam is kin to the G3 Prix Chloe winner Wilside (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}) and the Listed Prix La Sorellina winner Round Heels (Ire) (Daggers Drawn), who later produced the listed scorer Sarigan (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}). The third dam Stellina (Ire) (Caerleon) was responsible for the listed winner and G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Sestino (Ire) (Shirley Heights {GB}) connected to the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Marotta (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}). This is also the family of the stayer supreme Sagaro (GB) (Espresso {GB}). Mathuna's 2-year-old filly Lady Maura (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) was sold to Aisling Kinane for €300,000 at this year's Arqana May Breeze-Up, while she also has a colt foal by Invincible Spirit (Ire).
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT S.-G1, £583,130, Ascot, 10-19, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:16.43, hy.
1–DONJUAN TRIUMPHANT (IRE), 128, h, 6, by Dream Ahead
1st Dam: Mathuna (Ire), by Tagula (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sigonella (Ire), by Priolo
3rd Dam: Stellina (Ire), by Caerleon
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€58,000 Wlg '13 GOFNOV; €50,000 RNA Ylg '14 GOFORB; 30,000gns 2yo '15 TATBRE). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Patrick Cosgrove & Dream Ahead Syndicate (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-Silvestre de Sousa. £330,693. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Fr, 37-7-9-5, $1,091,271. *1/2 to Caledonian Spring (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}), SW-Eng, $188,679. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–One Master (GB), 125, m, 5, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Enticing (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Lael Stable; B-Lael Stables (GB); T-William Haggas. £125,373.
3–Forever In Dreams (Ire), 124, f, 3, Dream Ahead–Dora de Green (Ire), by Green Tune. (€10,000 RNA Wlg '16 GOFNOV; £430,000 3yo '19 GOFLON). O-Phoenix Ladies Syndicate; B-Con Marnane (IRE); T-Adrian Fogarty. £62,745.
Margins: 1, NK, NO. Odds: 33.00, 4.00, 66.00.
Also Ran: Brando (GB), Make A Challenge (Ire), Speak In Colours (GB), Advertise (GB), Hello Youmzain (Fr), Mabs Cross (GB), Keystroke (GB), Khaadem (Ire), Cape Byron (GB), The Tin Man (GB), Sands of Mali (Fr), Librisa Breeze (GB), Dream of Dreams (Ire), So Perfect. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
